Women in Turkmenistan

Women in Turkmenistan comprise 50.8% of the country's population.[2] They generally have assigned roles in society and reduced rights compared to men. Study of women's rights in the country is made difficult by government censorship and lack of reliable, official data.

Women in Turkmenistan

Turkmen woman, 2006
Gender Inequality Index
Value	NR
Rank	NR
Maternal mortality (per 100,000)	67 (2010)
Women in parliament	16.8% (2012)
Females over 25 with secondary education	NA
Women in labour force	50% (2014)[1]
Global Gender Gap Index
Value	NR
Rank	NR out of 153

Under Article 18 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, women are guaranteed equal rights to men.[3] In practice, however, they face routine political and societal discrimination. Women are not allowed to form independent women's organizations, and all such organizations must be registered under the Women's Union of Turkmenistan.[4] They make up 16.8% of the country's Parliament. Most women work in the home, as mothers or homemakers, or in the markets as sellers.[5] Though the country's Islamic roots are several centuries old, Turkmen women are not required to wear a face covering.

Background

Women in Turkmenistan

Location of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia. Throughout the centuries, the territory of present-day Turkmenistan has been subjected to numerous civilizations, such as Persian empires, the conquest of Alexander the Great, Muslims, Mongols, Turkic peoples, and Russians. Throughout most of the 20th century it was part of the Soviet Union, until its fall in 1991. As with other former Soviet states, in the 1990s the economy collapsed and the country experienced social problems. Today, Turkmenistan is about half urban and half rural; its population is largely Muslim (89%), but there is also a significant Eastern Orthodox minority.[6] The total fertility rate is 2.09 children born/woman (2015 est.).[6]

During the Soviet period, women assumed responsibility for the observance of some Muslim rites to protect their husbands' careers.[7] Many women entered the work force out of economic necessity, a factor that disrupted some traditional family practices and increased the incidence of divorce.[7] At the same time, educated urban women entered professional services and careers.[7] After the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, traditional values began to reassert themselves. This had led to increasing numbers of women confined to the home and dependent on their male counterparts.[8]

Cultural role

Cooking is the main field of work for women. Some households have a small room for making food and keeping utensils. Neighbors or relatives sometimes arrive unasked to assist in housework, or they may bring their own household tasks to work on together and socialize. Food preparation is done in the open air. Tasks, such as smoking meat and popping corn, are done by men and often turn into a social opportunity.[9]

Women are expected to maintain a distance from their male counterparts. Men and women might sit and eat in one place, but they are segregated during social occasions. Some women carry on the practice of wearing a yaşmak, head scarf, in the initial year after they are wed. The wife clenches the corner of her scarf in her teeth to show a significant barrier toward the male guests and to show respect to her parents-in-law. The scarf also stops her from communicating. The wife may stop covering her head with a yaşmak after a year of her wedding, after the birth of her first born, or by a decision within the family.[10]

Practices

Clothing

Women are garbed in ankle-length garments of silk or velvet, which are commonly a mix of bright oranges, purples, yellows, blues, and greens. The necklines are embellished with elaborate gold-thread needlework that drops down, decorating the neckline right to the navel.[11] Richly decorated head wear, jewelry and embroidery accents are a part of their routine.[12] Face covering is not required by law.[5]

Work

Manufacturing of ketene, a homespun silk, persists largely as a cottage skill. Garments prepared from ketene are worn by both men and women. Costumes made from ketene are used as a customary bridal dress.[12] The embroidery on the garments reveal various patterns that are exclusively known as a family hallmark, distinguishing the family of its maker.[12] Skilled Turkmen women use antique weaving looms known as tara, which were adopted in the ancient times.[13]

Turkmen teachers and healthcare workers are primarily women.[14] Job cuts in both these sectors, however, have led to a dramatic rise in unemployment for both men and women.

Marriage

Article 25 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan requires mutual consent for marriage.[3] Both individuals must also be above the age of 18. Arranged child marriages are common, typically between members of the same tribe.[15]

As with many Central Asian countries, bride abductions are a major occurrence in Turkmenistan.[15] It is such a common practice that normal weddings are often accompanied with a mock bride abduction. Although abduction is de jure illegal, abductors are rarely prosecuted.

Turkmen marriages feature numerous unique customs and rituals. Turkmen wedding dresses are often richly decorated and covered in silver-colored pendants which are believed to drive away evil spirits.[15]

Violence against women

Turkmen women often face violence and subjugation. Police officers sometimes conduct forced gynecological examination of young girls to assess their virginity. If they are found to have had sex, the girl and her family are publicly humiliated and censured. Women are also often subject to domestic violence,[4][14] and are usually hesitant to report abuse to authorities due to distrust and fear of retribution.

Political influence

Women comprise 16.8% of the Turkmen Parliament, and domestic law guarantees women the right to political participation. However, the actual participation of women in government is stifled by the curtailing of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

References

1. Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate)
2. Index Mundi. “Turkmenistan Demographics Profile 2014.” 30 June 2015. Index Mundi. Web. 30 October 2015.
3. "Constitution of Turkmenistan". www.uta.edu. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
4. "NHC: Women second-class citizens in Turkmenistan". Human Rights House Foundation. 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
5. "Turkmenistan: For Women, Mostly Traditional And Difficult Lives". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
6. "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
7. Turkmenistan: A country study. Federal Research Division. March 1996. Social structure. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
8. "Turkmen Women Suffer in Silence". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
9. Genté, Régis. “Second-class citizens.” 17 June 2013. Chronicles of Turkmenistan. Web. 30 October 2015.
10. Countries and their Cultures. “TÜrkmenistan.” 2015. Countries and their Cultures. Web. 30 October 2015.
11. Walker, Shaun. “Turkmenistan: Stranger in a very strange land.” 23 October 2011. Independent.co.uk. Web. 30 October 2015.
12. Central Asia Cultures. “Enjoy Fascinating Cultures of the Silk Road.” 2014. Central Asia Cultures. Web. 30 October 2015.
13. Traveler.uz. “Turkmen Silk.” 2008. Traveler.uz. Web. 30 October 2015.
14. "TURKMENISTAN". hrlibrary.umn.edu. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
15. Hays, Jeffrey. "MARRIAGE AND WEDDINGS IN TURKMENISTAN | Facts and Details". factsanddetails.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.

External links